Home LAKESNET 2007 LAKESNET 2007 Aims to Integrate Bilateral Discussion of Future of Great Lakes

LAKESNET 2007 AIMS TO I NTEGRATE BILATERAL DISCUSSION OF FUTURE OF GREAT LAKES

Canadians and Americans Unite to Energize Discussion of Future of Great Lakes as a Binational Environmental and Economic Region
 
Recipes used to create legendary culinary experiences take time to perfect. Its always a bit of trial and error, but with the creative effort , the act of mixing the right ingredients is vital to delivering a satisfying meal.

And while this is true in the world of fine cuisine, the same can be said for work being done right now between Canada and the U.S. to ensure the sustainable development of The Great Lakes.

In February, one hundred representatives from within and outside of government from both sides of the border will come together for a detailed examination of the Great Lakes ecosystem and the Great Lakes regional economy and what needs to do done to ensure their continued health.

For more than a century, the Lakes have contributed to the region's industry and commerce. This process has helped to create the industrial success of the Great Lakes Region and has also defined the communities that call the lake shores their home.

And while governments and industry continue to work to establish a balance between economic necessity and environmental reality, ensuring this environmental partnership continues has become a primary focus of stakeholders involved in Great Lakes issues – enter the first-ever LAKESNET Conference.
 
Organizers of the international meeting are hoping to re-energize the discussion on Lakes issues by bringing industry, environmental concerns and government officials together for a two-day forum in February. The meeting will be the first of its kind and will offer participants a new approach to dealing with the Great Lakes by integrating the economy and ecology into a single forum.

“What we are doing with this conference is creating a Lakes network of interested and engaged elected officials, partners and citizens," said Canada's Head of Mission in Chicago, Consul General Georges Rioux. "The organizations and individuals participating in the meeting are already well engaged in reshaping the future of the Great Lakes. What we want to do is bring them together under the umbrella of an ongoing network that will discuss, debate and recommend on how to deal best with Great Lakes issues in an integrated manner."
 
The conference is spearheaded by the Consulate General in Chicago which is partnering with several U.S. organizations to make the meeting a truly international affair. Partners include the Brookings Institution , the Northeast Midwest Institute, the Great Lakes National Program Office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, and Pollution Probe .

Conference participants will explore opportunities for Canada-U.S. partnership within the overall theme of sustainable development. The conference will focus on four priority areas: economic innovation and prosperity, environment and energy, statistics, and infrastructure - both physical and legislative.
 
"We will have representatives from all walks of life and from a wide cross section of industry, and governmental and non-governmental organizations," said Rioux. "This is the right mix of interests and the right time to launch the LAKESNET initiative to ensure the discussion on Great Lakes issues evolves to the next level with all the key players working in partnership."

The invitation-only LAKESNET conference will be held Thursday and Friday, February 8 and 9, 2007 at The Westin River North 320 North Dearborn, Chicago. For more information on the conference, or LAKESNET, contact Great Lakes Strategic Network Coordinator Kendra Pohn Fogarty at 312-327-3613 or through email at kendra.fogarty@international.gc.ca